FG inaugurates 40MW Hydroelectric multipurpose dam in Gombe
By Chima Azubuike
The Federal Government on Friday inaugurated 40 Megawatts Dadinkowa multipurpose hydroelectric dam in Gombe State.
Performing the inauguration on behalf of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) Minister of Water Resources Engineer Suleiman Adamu, said the Power situation would be remedied to a significant extent.
The President explained that aside augmenting power challenges in the country, the dam would also provide agricultural opportunities to farmers.
Our correspondent reports that Dadinkowa dam has over three decades history spanning from 1982, with re-awarded dates of 2005, and 2016, its challenges hinged on technicalities, financing and legal aspects.
According to Buhari, the Power Plant was completed since 2020, disclosing that relevant Government agencies have tested and certified to the its capacity.
He said, “It has been connected to the National grid to deliver 40 Megawatts of electricity. The Power project is an integral part of Dadinkowa Multipurpose dam with the goal of providing 6,000 hectares of irrigation, 40 Megawatts of electricity and 30,000 cubic meter of water supply to Gombe.
“I’m happy to inform this August gathering that the statutory inspection by relevant testing and certification of unit of the Power Plant by relevant agencies of Government have been completed making the power plant ready for commissioning.
“The three unit turbines were activated and generation capacity test conducted with stakeholders between 18th and 21st March 2020 with the concessionaire satisfactorily completing the power plant in December 2020.”
Also speaking, Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, lauded the initiative behind the power project, adding that efforts were on to benefit from the current reforms in power sector in order for locals and those within to benefit.
Yahaya said, “The recent constitutional amendment granting States the power to generate, transmit and distribute electricity will no doubt galvanise stakeholders at the subnational level to harness their comparative advantage in energy generation. Our administration is committed to working with private investors and development finance institutions to fully explore this comparative advantage for the benefit of our people.”
On his part, Managing Director Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority, Halilu Mua’zu, in his remarks said although the Dandikowa dam initially inaugurated since 1982, was completed in 1986, adding that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saw that the Power Plant was yet to be completed which made him encourage Private Sector participation.
“The commissioning of this hydroelectric component today has actualised Mr President Muhammadu Buhari, policy on financing public infrastructure by engaging private sector under the build, operate, transfer concession agreement.
“This hydroelectric Power agreement was initiated as far back as 2005 but faced series of challenges including technicalities, financing and legal aspects,” Mua’zu said.